Uttarakhand got yet another place of prominence in the national BJP after its President Amit Shah elevated party spokesperson Anil Baluni as the head of party’s Media Department. Mr. Baluni, a major face of BJP in the national media and TV debates, replaces Shrikant Sharma, who is now a minister in the UP Government.

Baluni (45) is considered close to entire top leadership of the BJP, particularly Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mr. Shah. He has been active with BJP in Uttarakhand since 1993, and later got involved in the party affairs in the national level. He was made national spokesperson in 2014.

Considered a modern face of BJP, Mr. Baluni is soft-spoken but assertive when it comes to defending the party’s stand on controversial issues. Hailing from Pauri Garhwal, Mr. Baluni also had a stint as Deputy Chairman of Uttarakhand State Forest and Environment Committee. Mr. Baluni’s association with BJP started with ABVP when he was a Delhi University student. He is commerce graduate and holds a diploma in journalism too.